I will concur that it was not the textbook definiton of 'triple coverage,' and that there were 3 guys within about 5-7 yds or so, but it was at least double coverage--or well covered with a safety rolled.
Well the 3rd guy was covering someone else until the ball was in the air.
The second guy, whether he was supposed to be covering Slater or not was nowhere near him. If you pretend Pollard isnt there slater would be about the most wide open reciever you have ever seen.
I have heard the 'left hash' argument, but personally am not buying it. I think we both know throwing from midfield (the #1 spot to take a long bomb shot) off of a turnover (the #1 time to try and take a shot) with Slater as the target (the 'only' time anyone has really seen that was the week one long bomb) was incredibly predictable.
What does predictability have to do with it? He was open, he was inside Pollard. If Brady led Slater properly, Pollard couldn't have made a play on the ball.
If Slater kept running without looking at the ball, he would have been to the hash when it came down. Instead the ball was in the middle of the field. With a defender TRAILING him, he had to change direction, right back into the trailing defender.
Whether its predictable or not, its an open receiver and a TD with a good throw. Watch the play, its not really even questionable.
Like some others have said, when the player himself admits that he played poorly, I'm not sure what there is to debate?
He made 3 poor throws that dramatically affected the scoreboard. Of course its not up his standards. That doesnlt mean its appropriate to call him a bonehead.
They very well could've milked the clock, and tried to pick up a couple of first downs to make it a 6 pt game, late in the 4th quarter of the AFCCG. Instead, they ruined what amounted to be a potentially huge game saving INT by Spikes.
Brady didn't call the play. The 1st read was open. If he makes a good throw, the game is over.
I have stuck up for Brady in his playoff performances many times, including the NYG SB and last yr's NYJ game, but I believe he played sub-par on Sunday, with the lowlight being that specific play. We seem to have a difference of opinions, but I would imagine that Brady and Belichick would not make that same playcall...
The receiver was open, and its a TD with a good throw.
That, Gronk and the other pick are 3 bad throws that do equal a sub par day by Bradys standards. That doesn't mean a fan who calls him a bonehead isn't a moron.